Music-player.



D. 1. HAUSSGL A. DOM. MUSIC PLAYER.

0N FILED AUG. 12. 1909.

Patented May 4, 1915.

h a V Q i H K ".HH- n 1, Y r m I M DAVID J". HAUSS AND ALEXANDER DOM, 0F AURORA, INDIANA.

MUSIC-IPLAYZEB.

Application filed August 12, 1909.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, DAVID J. HAUSS and ALEXANDER DOM, citizens of the United States, residing at Aurora, in the county of Dearborn and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Music-Players, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in mechanism to electrically actuate music struments of commerce, and connection therewith.

It consists in certain details of form, combination and arrangement, all of which will be more fully set forth in the description of the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a central vertical section through the key board of an ordinary piano with one of our improved actuating elements attached to a piano key. Fig. 2 is a plan view of a series of actuating elements assembled in compact form upon a common support preparatory to being inserted into a musical instrument. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of our improved actuating magnet with the armature detached. Fig. 4 is aninverted perspective view of the armature detached.

Our improved actuating mechanism is capable of use in connection with a variety of musical instruments. In the accompanying drawings, its application to actuate the keys of an ordinary piano has been illustrated but it may also be used to actuate the pedals and other parts.

A represents the piano casing.

B represents a bar supporting the various piano keys C, said bar carrying a series of pins 6 which project upward through openings 0 in the piano keys.

series of actuating elements may be secured directly to the casing beneath the keys Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 4, 1915. Serial No. 512,486.

as illustrated in Fig. 1, but are preferably secured to a plate or strip D as indicated in Fig. 2, which strip is of sufiicient length to carry the required number of magnetic actuating mechanisms, and is inserted beneath the keys and secured in position by attaching it to the casing A.

I consider it important to connect the several actuating elements to the respective keys substantially in line directly beneath or slightly in rear of the cross-bar or name board E of the piano casing or its equivalent, as at this point all the keys lie in parallel planes and are uniformly spaced.

The several actuating elements preferably each comprise a core F of magnetic material, to which heads or pole-pieces f 7 of magnetic material are attached.

A coil of insulated wire G encircles the core F and is retained in position by the heads 7" f. The head f is provided with ears 7 f to which the armature or electrically operated lever H is pivotally attached preferably by means of a pin 7 of magnetic material. The pivotal end of the armature is notched or reduced in width to permit it to enter between the ears 7 f. The free end N of the armature is bent or shaped at right angles to the body of the armature so as to overhang the magnet head f and slightly out of contact therewith. When the armature is in the open position, as indicated in Fig. 1, the overhanging or overlapping head N insures a very small air gap, or an almost completely metal path for the magnetic flux. Angle plates I, preferably of non-magnetic material, are attached by screws f to the heads gand by screws 7' to the casing A or strip 7 The portions of the plates I resting against the strip D are each tapered to permit the several magnets to be closely assembled as indicated in Fig. 2, in staggered relation, facing each other. The screws j being closely in line with the pull on the armatures permits the magnets to be held in place each by a single screw.

Eyes or loops J preferably of non-magnetic material are attached to the free ends of the respective armatures, and these eyes are in turn attached to the music keys or other members to be actuated preferably by means of yoke shaped rods K, each having one end longer than the other K, and threaded on the longer end. The arms 70 and 7c of each yoke member K are joined at their lower ends by a bridge-piece or crossbar 76 extending substantially horizontally and giving the yoke inverted U-shape. The keys are completely perforated to receive the arms 7: which are each fitted with a nut K above the keys, by means of which the desired adjustment betw en the keys and armatures may be obtained. The arms K enter recesses partially through the keys from the under side, and slide endwise in said recesses as the nuts K are adjusted. The loop portions of members K are threaded through the eyes J of the armatures, and springs L on the arms 70 serve to hold the eyes J at the bottom of the loops of members K, and to secure a noiseless connection between the armatures and the keys, and one which is not varied or affected by moisture or climatic changes. The springs L press at their lower ends upon the eyes J. \Vashers are interposed between the springs and the eyes, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, for forming a more desirable connection between these parts.

The engagement of the extreme rear end of the armature with the head f provides an unbroken metallic path for the magnetic flux. When the armature is actuated by energizing the coil the armature is drawn down until it strikes or nearly strikes the Cir upper edge of the face of the pole-piece f, the overhanging portion remaining close to but out of contact with the head WVith this structure, upon the energization of the magnets, the key connected thereto is readily started on its downward course and continues such downward course with an accelerated movement producing an effect similar to the human touch.

It will be understood that various detail modifications may be made in the structure herein presented without departing from the spirit of this invention as embodied in the following claims.

Having described our invention what we claim is:

1. In a musical instrument, key-levers, a playing mechanism comprising a plurality of actuating elements to actuate said key levers, and connections from said actuating elements to said key levers, said connections comprising rods connected to said key-levers and playing mechanism respectively, and springs on said rods engaging th'eactuating elements to yieldingly hold said key levers and actuating elements in the desired relative positions.

2. In a musical instrument, key levers, a playing mechanism comprising a plurality of actuating elements, and connections from said actuating elements to said key levers comprising eyelets associated with said actuating elements, and U-shaped yokes, one branch of each of said yokes being threaded through said eyelets, and connected to said key levers, and guide sockets in said key levers into which the other branches of said yokes extend.

3. In a musical instrument, key levers, a playing mechanism comprising a plurality of actuating elements, and connections from said actuating elements to said key levers comprising U-shaped yokes connected at the bend to the actuating elements of the playing mechanism, and at the ends to the said key levers.

L. In a musical instrument, key levers, a playing mechanism comprising a plurality of actuating elements, and connections from said actuating elements to said key levers comprising U-shaped yokes connected at their free ends to the said key levers, and at their closed ends to elements of said playing mechanism.

5. In a musical instrument, key levers, a playing mechanism comprising a plurality of actuating elements, and connections from said actuating elements to said key levers comprising U-shaped yokes connected to the elements of the playing mechanism and the key levers respectively, means for adjusting the eilective length of one branch of said U-shaped yokes, and a socket into which the other branch of each of said U-shaped yokes is seated.

6. In a musical instrument, key levers, a playing mechanism comprising a plurality of actuating elements, and connections from said actuating elements to said key levers comprising U-shaped yokes connected at one end to the said key levers, and at the bend to the elements of said playing mechanism, means for adjusting one branch of said U- shaped yokes with respect to the key levers, and sockets in the key levers in which the other branches of said yokes are accommodated.

7. In a musical instrument, key levers, a playing mechanism comprising a plurality of actuating elements, said elements consisting of electromagnets and armatures therefor, an eyelet in the end of each armature, and a U-shaped yoke engaging each eyelet at the bend of the U, the branches of said yokes being connected to said key levers.

S. In a mechanism of the character indicated, in combination with a sound-producing element, operating means for the same, and an electrically operated actuating member, a YOkGfSllELTJQCl connecting member, the loop of said member being connected to the actuating member and the free ends of each of said arms engaging the operating means, a spring to retain the connection of the actuating member in contact with the loop of said connecting member whereby to prevent the rattling of the connection, and means to ad'ust said connecting member relative to said operating means.

9. In a mechanism of the character indicated, an operating member, an electrically Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the lever and said actuating lever and being adjustable relatively to one of said members, and means engaging said connecting mem ber and said actuating lever to yieldingly maintain said key lever and said actuating lever in the desired relative positions.

In testimony whereof we have affixed our signatures in presence of two witnesses. DAVID J. HAUSS. ALEXANDER DOM. Witnesses:

WILLIAM 0. LANE,

WILLARD M. DEAN. i

Commissionen of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

